City SketchesAPRIL / 2021 APRIL / MAY 2021

The 69th Annual Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival returns to the streets of Fairhope April 30th, May 1st and May 2nd, 2021. This year’s festival will be a celebration of artists as the Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival Foundation finds ways to creatively present this beloved festival following more than a year with COVID-19 restrictions. “The Festival Foundation and the City of Fairhope decided together that the health and safety of the community, guests, volunteers, artists, and staff are our very top priority,” said Fairhope Mayor, and this year’s chairman, Sherry Sullivan. “Festival volunteers begin planning this event in advance, and while we all hoped throughout the planning process that we would be able to hold the event, we were si-multaneously preparing for the possibility of canceling or reschedul-ing. Fortunately, we feel that by rescheduling the Festival and enlisting additional safety policies and procedures, we will be able to host this time-honored tradition in the coming NEWS months.” Festival hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, HIGHLIGHTS and admission is free. A shuttle, provided by Hot Wheels Skate Center, will run from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day for $5 round-trip; pick up is at the Fairhope Recreation Center. Water flushing continues For 2021, there will be only Alabama artists exhibiting their best works. through April and May Artists will be set up so social distancing is possible. Hand-washing and sanitizing stations will be placed throughout the festival’s foot- print, and security will be on hand to monitor and hand out masks. Make plans now to come out and see the best Alabama artists and Farmers Market beings again enjoy delicious cuisine from the food court and downtown restaurants throughout this three-day event!

The 69th Arts & Crafts Festival National Public Works Week April 30th, May 1st and May 2nd -22, 2021 FRIDAY - SUNDAY 10am - 5pm Admission is free For more information visit fairhopeartsandcraftsfestival.com City Sketches APRIL / MAY 2021

Fairhope Welcome Center Walking Tours resume Girls Night Out National Public Works Week this May 16-22, 2021 offers Pre-Employment Get the gals together for a girl’s night in downtown Fairhope complete with an exclusive coupon book and commemorative Transition Services Learn about Fairhope’s unique and fascinating history with a This May we stand with others throughout the t-shirt. Our fun and festive fiesta is great excuse to indulge in a historic downtown walking tour will take place every coun-try to salute our hardworking Public Works little retail therapy with the senioritis. Every GNO participant Saturday in April. Tours start at 10 a.m. and last employees during National Public Works Week! will be registered for the door prize giveaways. approximately one hour. Celebrated from May 16-22nd, this week helps All tours begin at the Fairhope Welcome Center located us recognize the many facets of Public Works. at 20 N. Section Street. Walking Tours are free and open to From building and repairing roads, running the sanitation services city-wide and growing and the public. planting flowers, these hardworking men and TH  ANNUAL women keep our City running and beautiful. Fairhope Girls Night Out Fairhope Welcome Center This week also gives us an opportunity to 20 North Section Street celebrate three trusted members of our Public Works staff and congratulate them on their well- EVERY SATURDAY deserved retirements! The City of Fairhope and the Cindy Haber Center joined 10am Rickey Mims retired in after 20 years to-gether for the month of to allow young adults with Admission is free of service to the City. Throughout his years with dis-abilities the opportunity to intern as Fairhope Avera Fair-hope you may have seen him out and about o ge Ambassadors. The program is based within local ch To han-dling painting jobs at City buildings and a w businesses throughout Baldwin County where interns N n facilities. learn and apply transferable skills in a variety of Assistant Public Works Director Arthur departments. The interns have the unique advantage of Farmers Market Bosarge will retire in April after 26 years with obtaining valuable skills and experience before joining the begins again the City. His first job in the City was as a trash workforce. As Fairhope Ambassadors, the interns will staff GIRLSFairhope NIGHT OUT collector and, throughout his tenure, has served the Welcome Center and answer all questions about in capacities in-cluding recycling, mowing, landfill Fairhope. The City of Fairhope will host an Outdoor Farmers Market operations, car-penter crew, street crew and from 3-6 p.m. Thursdays starting April 8th and ending FIESTA landscaping. His time at the City also enabled him 8th. The market will be set up behind the Fairhope Public to attend the University of Mobile and obtain his undergraduate and gradu-ate degrees. Water flushing continues Library and will feature local farmers, bakers, fresh Baldwin THURSDAY, County produce, fresh-cut flowers, local honey, plants, baked He was told when he started here that “You will through April and May goods and more. 4-8PM not get rich here but you will be taken care of,” Get the gals together for a girl’s night in downtown Fairhope complete with an exclusive and he believes wholeheartedly that this is true. couponFor book, more special informationprizes, commemorative visit t-shirt fairhopemerchants.com and swag bag. Our fun and festive esta is a great excuse to indulge in a little retail therapy with the senioritas. . Arthur’s retirement plan is to spend more time Every GNO participant will be registered for the door prize giveaways. doing mission projects and working with his wife. The City of Fairhope is continuing the routine Tickets available April 1st In July, flower master and Chief Horticulturist flushing of its water distribution service through April FairhopeMerchants.com and select area retailers Paul Merchant will leave after 30 years with the and May. The Water Department will start flushing at City. He started here driving a trash truck and 7 a.m. and continue through 7 p.m. Monday cutting grass on an out-front mower and, within through Saturday. Flushing of areas in downtown a year, moved into the horticultural department. Fairhope will not begin until after 6 p.m. During this Though Paul is not retiring, he is moving on to a time, residents and businesses may ex-perience bright future! temporary low water pressure and discolor-ation of water. Residents and business owners are Thanks to these three hard-working men for encouraged to check water prior to washing their many years of service! clothing as staining may occur.

FOR QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS Outdoor Farmers Market Behind the Fairhope Public Library call Jason Langley with the City of Fairhope Water & Sewer Department EVERY THURSDAY 3-6pm 251-928-8003 LETTER FROM THE MAYOR Contact your elected officials Sherry Sullivan, Mayor [email protected]

Jack Burrell, City Council President [email protected]

Corey Martin, City Councilmember [email protected]

Jimmy Conyers, City Councilmember [email protected]

Kevin Boone, City Councilmember This is one of my favorite times of the year. [email protected] The flowers are beautiful, is in the air and summer is right around the corner. Jay Robinson, City Councilmember In the next several months, we will celebrate [email protected] , the end of school, graduation and Mother’s Day. I hope all of you will continue to support our local businesses and enjoy things Mayor & City Council mailing address: getting back to normal. We will also celebrate volunteers and Public Works week in April and City of Fairhope May. I hope you will join me and celebrate the P.O. Drawer 429 people who are dedicated to our City. The Fairhope, AL 36533 people of Fairhope and the ones who work for Fairhope are what make Fairhope special. As always, my door is open so please stop by or give me a call if you need assistance.

Happy Spring, Sherry Sullivan, Mayor

Public Meetings Listings Fairhope Planning Commission MEETS AT 5pm | City Council chambers FIRST MONDAY OF EACH MONTH

Fairhope City Council MEETS AT 6pm | City Council chambers FairhopeAL.gov | 251-928-2136 THE SECOND AND FOURTH MONDAYS